Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023  

The notes of the Planning & Infrastructure PDAG meeting held on 27th of June 2023 were received.

Horsham District Council approved its existing Green Infrastructure strategy in 2014. Following updates to national guidance, this strategy is being updated to ensure that the most recent guidance and learning can be incorporated. A presentation will outline the proposed structure, content and application of the revised strategy.

A presentation on Horsham District Council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy was provided. It is being undertaken to ensure the strategy remains up to date and is in accordance with revised national guidance published by Natural England in January 2023.

When the current strategy was reviewed by officers, it was felt that the vision and strategic aspirations remained relevant, the actions for site promoters were less relatable and therefore it is difficult to secure principles in development when applications were submitted.

Officers explained that the proposed content of the document, including updates to reflect changes in recent years with reference to Sussex Local Nature Partnership, Wilder Horsham, and Local Nature Recovery Strategy. 

Site level guidance would set out a general expectation that planning proposals consider what contribution they can make to green infrastructure provision.

There is a legal duty placed on Local Planning Authorities to designate conservation areas where appropriate, to review the designations regularly, and to plan for the management of conservation areas to ensure that they retain their special character and interest. An update will be provided to Members on progress of the proposed Park Terrace Gardens Conservation Area in Horsham town.

Horsham District Council are looking to designate a new conservation area in Horsham known as Park Terrace Gardens Conservation Area. The area is considered to have special architectural or historic interest reflecting the particularly intact Victorian era heritage from this area of Horsham town.  The development of the Conservation has taken into account the feedback from consultation in Autumn 2022, concerns raised included location of boundaries, expectations of property owners and additional costs placed upon residents in a conservation area. A meeting was held in 2023 for those who responded and additional discussions were held regarding Park Street.

Following this public consultation, it is proposed the conservation area boundary has been amended to exclude part of Park Street. The next steps in agreeing the boundary by Cabinet and Council were discussed.

In July 2023, the government published a consultation which set out a number of proposed reforms to the plan making system.  A presentation will outline the content of the consultation and outline emerging implications, in order to help inform the Council’s eventual consultation response.

A presentation to Members was provided on the content of the ongoing government consultation regarding plan making reforms.

These changes are currently anticipated to be enacted prior to  7^th of November 2023. The new plan making regime would begin in August in 2024. The deadline for submitting old style Local Plans would be June 2025, and the latest implementation of old-style Local Plans being 31^st of December 2026.

Whilst it is considered that many of the proposed changes will assist, the lack of detail on some aspects has made it difficult to provide detailed or effective commentary.

It is a legal requirement that the Council prepare a timetable for the preparation of Local Plans and other key planning documentation. This timetable is referred to as the ‘Local Development Scheme’ (LDS).  Due to the delays in the preparation of the local plan the current LDS needs updating.  The proposed Local Development Scheme will be outlined to Members.

The Local Development Scheme is a legal requirement.  Following delays to the production of the Local Plan, HDC is updating its LDS.  The proposed timetable was set out to PDAG members, and outlined the next steps for consideration and agreement by Cabinet.

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Planning & Infrastructure portfolio

The Forward Plan extract was noted.